Two Affection Men Swimming

Great photo from the 1930s on eBay. A little over 2 inches square but packed with acres of affection, or is that lust? And I don't see any bathing suit.

Gay Pride 1970s Style

Gay Pride 1977. Original black and white real photo postcard by photojournalist Marie Ueda. For those of you who weren't around back in the 70s, the pretty woman is Anita Bryant, singer, beauty queen and homophobe best known for her 1977 "Save Our Children" campaign to repeal Miami's anti-gay discrimination ordinance. (She suceeded).

On a lighter note, we have some vintage color photos from the Polk Street Fair, about the same time. See more at homobilia.com.

Von Gloeden photo on eBay

Luca, one of our collector friends in Italy has just posted a wonderful Von Gloeden photograph on eBay, Male Nudes Next to a Column (1900-1930).

If you're interested in Von Gloeden definitely take a look.

Although the listing itself is in Italian, be assured that Luca is a reputable seller. It comes from a private collection that he bought from a French library, with the catalog attached.

The auction ends June 24th.

50s Beefcake Like You've Never Seen It

Sexy. Funny. Clever. Did I say sexy? The 1950s never looked or sounded so good.

I've watched this video three times in a row. Can't get enough.

Make that four times.

The Japanese Penis Festival: It's Not About Dick

OK let me start by saying that I have never seen so many enormous dicks and felt absolutely nothing. So no, in spite of what looks a lot like cock worship, this doesn't qualify as homobilia. Far from it.

But it's truly fascinating from an American perspective. What would the "religious right" make of Hounen Matsuri, The Japanese Penis Festival which has been celebrated in Japan for about 1500 years?

The Japan Travel Guide sheds some light: "It is important to understand that the worship is not of the phalli, but instead a worship of the earth, of the power that nature has through renewal and regeneration. It is this context that provides the phallus with its significance."

"With everything from penis shaped candy to suck on, phallus keychains, ... dumplings in the shape of the male member, and small[?] wooden objects to take home as souvenirs, it is easy to think that it is the phallus that is being worshiped. This is not the case."

So the next time you see a guy on his knees sucking a penis, consider that he might in fact be worshiping the power of nature. But if he's sucking dick, well, all bets are off.

P.S. It's not too soon to plan your trip: the festival is held in Komaki, just north of Nagoya, every March 15th.

Gay Freedom 1970: The First Gay Pride Day

According to Elizabeth A. Armstrong in her book, Forging Gay Identities (I don't think she means "faking"), the idea of an annual Freedom Day parade was first proposed by activist Craig Rodwell (founder of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookstore, the first devoted to gay and lesbian authors).

The resolution passed at the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations in 1969 states:

We propose that a demonstration be held annually on the last Saturday in June in New York City to commemorate the 1969 spontaneous demonstrations on Christopher Street and this demonstration be called Christopher Street Liberation Day. No dress or age regulations shall be made....

By the time of the event, references to "demonstration" were replaced by affirmations of "celebration" and "pride."

These photos are from the Commemorative Essay, The First Anniversary Of The Gay Liberation Movement, by the Editors of QQ Magazine. It's an extraordinary piece of ephemera from a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for equal rights.

The purpose: "Serve as a permanent reminder of the greatest day in our history"... "ignite a feeling of gay pride" ... "come to know the true meaning of brotherhood."

You can find it at Homobilia.com.